Cerritos College
Cerritos College • Norwalk, Calif.

Talon Marks

Cerritos College • Norwalk, Calif.

Talon Marks

Cerritos College • Norwalk, Calif.

Talon Marks

Calendar
TM Digital Newsletter

TM TikTok

Shake your thang wit’ WPMD

Shake your thang wit WPMD

With a squeal of amplifiers and the screech of music, WPMD radio at Cerritos College kicked off its live “Radiofest II” at the outdoor amphitheater last Thursday.

This concert had been planned as a promotional event since the early summer, but was quickly modified to include thoughts for the victims of the tragedy in New York,Washington and Pennsylvania.

The International Students Association made an appearance, with several students expressing thoughts of peace and brotherhood. Members running a banner around the quad to display their unity of purpose followed their presentation.

The RadioFest event, combined with a mini-health fair, brought to student’s attention several of the services and activities available at no cost to them.

The Health Center had a booth where students could get their blood sugar and pressure tested.

According to Nurse Lorena Cardenas, “Students should get their blood checked often, just to be sure.”

Also available was a booth offering a full range of low-cost dental services for students, such as a complete cleaning and check-up for $9.

Nantucket Nectars gave away free samples of several beverage drinks, such as the Kiwi Berry and the Orange Mango flavors.

The live band “Downshift” played several of their favorite hits and had the audience clapping and cheering in time to the music.

A freestyle dance contest whipped up the noontime activities, with the audience screaming and cheering for its favorite dancer. Eleven guys and girls danced to music ranging from hip-hop, rap to salsa, with the winner being decided by the loudest applause from the audience.

A prize give-away and a celebrity spot by local radio personalities rounded out the day’s activities.

The program was put together by a team of broadcasting students who also help keep WPMD 1700 AM playing 24 a day, seven days a week.

Where People Make a Diffrence

The call letters WPMD define the program as Where Students Make a Difference.

The radio station is a wholly student-run program, with students selecting content, programming and music styles.

It operates under FCC regulation, which means it is community oriented and not-for-profit.

Daily newscasts cover college events and activities, both on and off campus. Employment opportunities, sports scores, class schedules/cancellations and traffic reports are covered under the news segments.

For the sports programming, WPMD has live coverage of all Cerritos Falcon’s home football and basketball games all year long.

The station follows a variety of professional radio formats, with shows such as a dating info bit called “Arousal Hour” where the lovelorn can call in with their most critical issues about love, dating and romance.

Tuning into Dr. David Young’s broadcast; “You and your Career” can yield advice that is more professional.

Dr. Young is a Career Counselor here at Cerritos College and brings his experience to the air every Wednesday from 3 to 4 p.m.

Two of the students who keep the station on the air are M/C and on-air Host, Jeff Harris (J-Roc) and Promotions Director Eileen Arencibia.

A lucrative career

Harris is a full-time student who has parlayed his radio experience into a lucrative career with a major record label, Aristia Records.

This is his last semester here at Cerritos College as Harris will be leaving next month for New York to take his place as a new talent scout for Arista.

While in California, Harris has had the opportunity to work with such stars as Snoop Dogg, Kurupt Daz and other members of the “Dogg Pound.”

His signature sign-off is “Stay positive, be positive and positive things will come to you.”

I still have other things I want to do before I leave,” said Harris, referring to a planned slam-dunk fundraiser contest and another live radio promotion.

Community Outreach

Arencibia is just as active as a part of the station, responsible for outreaching into the community, as well as helping to produce all other activities.

Since WPMD is non-profit and carries no advertising, Arencibia ensures the station carries as much community information as possible.

Arencibia brings a variety of strengths and knowledge to the program by combining beauty and brains into a dynamic package. She is an aerobics instructor, a free-lance choreographer as well as currently running for the Cerritos College homecoming court.

“My major is actually Psychology,” she said, “but I love what I do here at the station.”

The station has an external speaker on the west end of the Burnight Center building where broadcasts can be heard.

Suggestions and musical requests can be made by calling 860-2451 ext 2626.

Story continues below advertisement
Leave a Comment
More to Discover

Comments (0)

All Talon Marks Picks TM Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Activate Search
Shake your thang wit’ WPMD